The music did not pause, nor was there a response. Eva called out again. Finally she tiptoed up the ramp and peered around the cramped cargo hold of the ship. Inside, the distinct scent of motor oil greeted her. This was a scent that Eva knew from her old home, her Sanctuary, and so it was somehow reassuring to her. It was the scent of machines. Machines made for people. Machines, just like this ship, that would whisk her away to a city full of people. It felt as if, after all of the searching and running, her dream—her WondLa—had come true.

That little crumbling picture of the girl and the robot and the adult had given Eva hope that there were others like her, humans, just waiting to be found. But the lands she was searching through were not like the Earth she had learned about. These lands were full of monstrous sand-snipers, bird-eating trees, and evil alien queens. Just when she had given up all hope of the existence of other humans, a ship had fallen from the sky. A ship piloted by a boy named Hailey . . .

Last night Hailey had told Eva and Rovender that he’d come to take them to the human city. He’d come to take Eva home.

Explaining that the ship would need to recharge overnight, the young pilot had offered up sleeping accommodations in the ship’s cabin. But Rovender had preferred sleeping in the open outdoors, despite Eva’s pleas that they stay onboard the ship. The reason she’d given was that she had so many questions she wanted answered, but really Eva was curious and excited to spend time with the first human she’d ever met in all twelve years of her life.

Hailey had had to admit that he was tired from travel and needed rest. Of course Rovender had concurred. Eva’s questions had to wait. Back at camp she’d tried to fall asleep despite the electricity that had coursed through her.

Lying next to the crackling fire, Eva had wondered how exciting the life of gallant Hailey must be as he searched for helpless humans to rescue from the wilds of Orbona. However, thoughts of being rescued had soon been interrupted with memories of Muthr.

Muthr.

For all of Eva’s life her only caretaker had been Multi-Utility Task Help Robot zero-six, or Muthr for short. As Eva had grown older, her yearning to explore the surface of the planet had often led to arguments with the robot. Regardless, Muthr had taken good care of her . . .

. . . even when Besteel had ransacked their underground home.

. . . even when their trusted technology had been ineffective against the dangerous new world they faced.

. . . even when saving Eva’s life, although it had meant sacrificing her own.

Muthr had loved her. Eva still grieved over the robot’s passing.